mikemiller1955
Lieutenant General
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2008
- Messages
- 17,491
I had a very pleasant nice long telephone conversation with John the other day.
When my telephone caller ID said "out of area"....I almost didn't answer it...he was calling from Hong Kong.
I have always said that John gives a lot of time to his customers, their requests and their concerns.
How he makes time for us...I have no idea...he told me he spends about 8 hours a day at the "sculpting" table.
I grilled him about his upcoming releases and as always John was a little secretive and evasive...
but he was kind enough to answer some direct questions from a previous email in detail, specifically about the Battle of Chippewa.
Instead of paraphrasing...I will cut and paste some "non personal" portions of the email.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
In reply to your questions:
1) Seneca Indians are on my list, as they were quite distinctive, as they
wrapped white linen as headbands. Also their war paint is recorded as having
red and black vertical stripes down the face.
2)Dragoons were planned for 2010, But the artillery are first on the list, and
it all depends on how extensive I make the artillery.
So far I have an 8 pdr and a howitzer for the US army, and it depends on how many crew I will make for them. I have started firing and loading sets so this is already a minimum of 8 figures.
Also I am not sure whether to make them in the earlier war uniform which was more colourfull..... not to mention if one set will be horse artillery!
3)I do have plans to make Porter and his militia. I am still a bit unsure on
their uniform?
Some accounts state they were in the new regulation blue uniform
Other books I have read mention they were in the basic grey jackets, which were normally issued to militia, hence Riall mistaking the troops on Chippewa as not being regulars.
The only official documented description of the militia at the battle states
that they took off their hats so that they could be distinguished easily???
This suggests to me that like the British Militia they could have been in
civilian dress, and to differentiate them easily in a fight they would be
wearing no hats? I know that the British militia that took part in civilian
dress wore a white armband.
Regarding the British, some of the Canadian militia at this time could have been wearing a green uniform, which would make them interesting to produce. also they would be interesting to depict as they often removed the musket strap and wrapped it around their waist to hold together all that euipment and help stop it becoming entangled in the undergrowth.
I would still like to add a few more regular light infantry.
The Indians with the British could be represented by the current Indians, but I am also planning to produce more sets of Indians in the future such as the Delaware and Mohawk stockbridge tribes which would be even more appropriately dressed for the 1812 war.
I am also dying to try and sculpt a few British dragoons, but am working on the artillery first and am leaving the cavalry as a little treat/reward for
finishing the other two branches.
I apologize if its a bit slow. The war of 1812 is the one I seem to work on
last out of the three periods I am currently working on. Several collectors
have also commented that they prefer it when I release different sides
alternatively. Such as Highlanders one month and then some British the next
month, unlike the war of 1812 where I spent a year releasing just the US troops and the second year releasing the Royal Scotts.
Khartoum has been a nice little break, and its good to finally get it out, and
I will be interested to see the response.
Again I am speechless at the generosity, kindness and support that has been shown by members of the toy soldier community.
The “Open House” days were extremely rewarding and allowed me to spend a lot of time with people who I would not normally meet. I look forward to that lunch meeting , hopefully in the not too distant future!
Best wishes
john jenkins
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I hope this gives collectors some insight into what John has planned for the future. I'm personally very excited about his upcoming plans as I think this is one of John's best series. I really believe there is not a nicer guy in this business and am glad I chose John's work as my passion.
When my telephone caller ID said "out of area"....I almost didn't answer it...he was calling from Hong Kong.
I have always said that John gives a lot of time to his customers, their requests and their concerns.
How he makes time for us...I have no idea...he told me he spends about 8 hours a day at the "sculpting" table.
I grilled him about his upcoming releases and as always John was a little secretive and evasive...
but he was kind enough to answer some direct questions from a previous email in detail, specifically about the Battle of Chippewa.
Instead of paraphrasing...I will cut and paste some "non personal" portions of the email.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
In reply to your questions:
1) Seneca Indians are on my list, as they were quite distinctive, as they
wrapped white linen as headbands. Also their war paint is recorded as having
red and black vertical stripes down the face.
2)Dragoons were planned for 2010, But the artillery are first on the list, and
it all depends on how extensive I make the artillery.
So far I have an 8 pdr and a howitzer for the US army, and it depends on how many crew I will make for them. I have started firing and loading sets so this is already a minimum of 8 figures.
Also I am not sure whether to make them in the earlier war uniform which was more colourfull..... not to mention if one set will be horse artillery!
3)I do have plans to make Porter and his militia. I am still a bit unsure on
their uniform?
Some accounts state they were in the new regulation blue uniform
Other books I have read mention they were in the basic grey jackets, which were normally issued to militia, hence Riall mistaking the troops on Chippewa as not being regulars.
The only official documented description of the militia at the battle states
that they took off their hats so that they could be distinguished easily???
This suggests to me that like the British Militia they could have been in
civilian dress, and to differentiate them easily in a fight they would be
wearing no hats? I know that the British militia that took part in civilian
dress wore a white armband.
Regarding the British, some of the Canadian militia at this time could have been wearing a green uniform, which would make them interesting to produce. also they would be interesting to depict as they often removed the musket strap and wrapped it around their waist to hold together all that euipment and help stop it becoming entangled in the undergrowth.
I would still like to add a few more regular light infantry.
The Indians with the British could be represented by the current Indians, but I am also planning to produce more sets of Indians in the future such as the Delaware and Mohawk stockbridge tribes which would be even more appropriately dressed for the 1812 war.
I am also dying to try and sculpt a few British dragoons, but am working on the artillery first and am leaving the cavalry as a little treat/reward for
finishing the other two branches.
I apologize if its a bit slow. The war of 1812 is the one I seem to work on
last out of the three periods I am currently working on. Several collectors
have also commented that they prefer it when I release different sides
alternatively. Such as Highlanders one month and then some British the next
month, unlike the war of 1812 where I spent a year releasing just the US troops and the second year releasing the Royal Scotts.
Khartoum has been a nice little break, and its good to finally get it out, and
I will be interested to see the response.
Again I am speechless at the generosity, kindness and support that has been shown by members of the toy soldier community.
The “Open House” days were extremely rewarding and allowed me to spend a lot of time with people who I would not normally meet. I look forward to that lunch meeting , hopefully in the not too distant future!
Best wishes
john jenkins
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I hope this gives collectors some insight into what John has planned for the future. I'm personally very excited about his upcoming plans as I think this is one of John's best series. I really believe there is not a nicer guy in this business and am glad I chose John's work as my passion.
